Main HallWorking As A Volunteer for the Sick People
Since child hood it was always my dream to visit Lourdes, France and from the very first time my husband took me to Lourdes as often as the opportunity came, I was ready to drop other engagement and come to Lourdes.
Our volunteer work started three years ago, when we arrived in Lourdes as early as 5 in the morning, and after we settled into our little hotel (not a fancy hotel, as all we needed was to hung our hats and spend all day at the santuary). As my husband and I were passing by the main entrace, on our left side was the hospital for the sick and needed, and overheard someone saying that many volunteers could not come because there was a terrible storm in the neighboorhood. So, we started talking to this lady who happens to be in charge of the people using a wheel chair, and they started us in the kitchen. There in the kitchen you are to prepare and be extra careful of preparing the diet food of the patience, then the following year we enquired how we could volunteer pushing the patience to the grotto for the 9pm rosary which was one of the most touchies way of praying to the Blessed Virgin Mary. There after each year when our time permits we then would make arrangement doing more days of volunteers which we truly enjoy so very much. It is so lovely meeting all kinds of people, all walks of life, all kinds of people with different kinds of religion, wealth, culture and just from every part of the world. Lourdes makes us very grateful for all what we have and always thankful for what we are and what we have. May God Bless You All. The many times we can offer our volunteer service to the sick and needed. The very very very first time I came to Lourdes, it certainly was a very strong impact on my soul. Outside the Santuary, one will and may conclude that it is getting to be quite commercialized, however, once your in the grotto you would then understand why all those stores are selling the religious items. Just praying the the Blessed Mother is a given tranquility on our life. Then when your time permits it would be quite interesting as well to visit the museum. It is only about three minutes from the shrines, via the "ascenseur de L´Egalite", the Lourdes Museum presents an audío - visual experience, Lourdes as large as life at the time of the visions, showing everyone the extraordinary story of Bernadette.When speaking of the Sanctuary: Many and most visitors even the pilgrims when you look up to the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes, is invited to look beyong the grey clouds of his or her own existence toward the heaven in order to allow himself to be bothered in the light from above. Although, whenever we are in Lourdes, what my husband and I look forward to is the 9pm rosary and the many beautiful songs "AVE, AVE, AVE, MARIA", as we sing that to Our lady of Lourdes, it seems that it automatically puts tears into my eyes, it certainly such a very beautiful song for Our Blessed Mother. "AMEN".
